Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in Swindon

Inspection report children's home: 2869498 1 Registered provider: Compass Children's Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This privately run home registered in March 2026. It provides care for up to 4 children who have experienced childhood trauma and social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2026.

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Information about this children's home

This was the home's first inspection since registration. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home, who spoke with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2869498 2

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Summary of findings

Overall, children receive care from staff that have developed positive relationships with them and understand their individual needs. Also, staff provide children with a warm and welcoming environment to live in, and support children to engage in education and to celebrate important events and achievements. However, leaders and managers do not consistently demonstrate how this support helps children to achieve sustained progress and positive outcomes.

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Summary of findings

Safeguarding practice is not always supported by effective management oversight, resulting in inconsistencies in risk management, decision-making and the use of unnecessary restrictions. Consequently, leaders cannot be assured that children consistently receive safe, effective and well-coordinated care.

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improvement to be good

Since the home registered, 3 children have moved into the home, and 2 children have moved on from the home in an unplanned way. When children moved from the home, planning for their endings was not always sufficiently considered. Opportunities to recognise and celebrate these important transitions were missed. Leaders and managers have identified ways to strengthen future transitions, including the use of memory books and personalised mementos. However, these arrangements are not yet embedded in practice.

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improvement to be good

Children receive care from staff who know them well and understand the things that are important to them. Staff spend time with children, support them to pursue their interests and provide care that is tailored to their individual needs. Children benefit from these positive relationships and make some progress in some areas of their lives. However, leaders and managers do not consistently evaluate and review children's progress against their plans. As a result, it is not always clear how care and support from staff is helping children to achieve their longer-term goals.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. However, oversight of children's family time arrangements is not sufficiently robust. This means that arrangements are not always clearly reviewed or progressed, which may limit opportunities for children to develop and maintain important relationships.

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improvement to be good

Staff are committed to supporting children's education. When children are unable to attend school, they are provided with alternative learning opportunities, including access to vocational qualifications, tutoring and practical activities. This helps children to remain engaged in education and develop their knowledge and skills. Inspection report children's home: 2869498 3 Children live in a warm and welcoming home that meets their individual needs. Their bedrooms are personalised to reflect their interests, preferences and identities. This helps children develop a sense of ownership over their living space. However, aspects of the environment detract from the home's otherwise homely atmosphere.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise the importance of significant events and achievements in children's lives. Birthdays and other milestones are celebrated in ways that reflect children's wishes and preferences. For example, one child chose to spend their birthday bowling with staff. The child living in the home spoke positively about the support they receive from staff. They described the home as 'good' and said they would like to continue living there.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers understanding of children's risks and vulnerabilities is inconsistent. While they share information with professionals and recognise some risks, the risks some children faced outside of the home were not fully understood. In one case, the extent of a child's involvement in criminal activity only became known following a disclosure from the child. As a result, the risks associated with moving the child into the home had not been fully considered. Additionally, there was insufficient understanding of whether staff could safely meet the child's needs.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not assess children's risks or needs effectively. These shortfalls contributed to difficulties between children and, ultimately, led to children moving out of the home in an unplanned manner. Leaders and managers have recognised these concerns and have introduced new processes to strengthen decision-making and oversight when considering whether children can live together. However, the effectiveness of these arrangements is not yet evidenced.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond appropriately to some incidents and take some action to safeguard children. They seek support from the relevant professionals when required. Children's behaviour is managed through positive relationships and de-escalation, and the use of physical intervention has not been necessary. However, the effectiveness of strategies used is not consistently evaluated. As a result, some children's risks increase and the inconsistent use of consequences means that children do not always receive clear messages about expectations and boundaries.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not provided staff with sufficient clarity about when searches of children's bedrooms should be undertaken. In addition, staff are not always clear on how to manage risks attributed to substance misuse, vapes and lighters. This means that staff do not always have clear guidance to inform their decision-making, reducing assurance that identified risks are being responded to effectively.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not ensured that restrictive practices used with children are clearly justified. A door alarm was used for one child despite there being no assessed need for this measure. In addition, window restrictors are in place without individual assessments or agreements from relevant professionals to support their use. Inspection report children's home: 2869498 4 Consequently, restrictions placed on children are not always evidenced as necessary or proportionate to their known risks.

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improvement to be good

Since the home registered, there have not been any concerns or complaints raised by children. Safer recruitment processes are safe. Appropriate pre-employment checks are completed before staff commence work, helping to ensure that children are cared for by adults who are suitable to work with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight of children's care and safety is not sufficiently robust. Leaders and managers are unable to demonstrate that agreed safeguarding actions are consistently implemented in response to known risks. Significant incidents are not always subject to effective review and evaluation, and agreed actions are not consistently followed through. In addition, children's written plans do not always reflect current concerns or practice. As a result, staff do not consistently have clear guidance about how children should be safeguarded, reducing assurance that risks are being effectively managed and children's welfare promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior managers oversight and presence within the home is limited. This has reduced opportunities to observe day-to-day practice, strengthen relationships with staff and children, and develop a more detailed understanding of children's experiences and the effectiveness of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from professionals was mixed. While professionals recognised that staff care about children and provide some positive experiences, concerns were raised about communication and the coordination of children's plans. This reduced confidence that important information was consistently shared, reviewed and acted on in children's best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager identified concerns with her assessment processes, with some staff practice and her management systems. However, she did not act quickly enough to address these issues. Consequently, inconsistencies in practice persisted, and children do not always experience care that was well coordinated or consistent. Wider organisational pressures further reduced leaders' capacity to provide effective oversight and secure improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff benefit from regular supervision, team meetings and therapeutic training. This helps to support their understanding of children's individual needs, experiences and vulnerabilities. Since opening, there has been a stable and core staff team, enabling children to build relationships with familiar adults who know them well. Inspection report children's home: 2869498 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards'. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that risks to children are assessed and managed effectively and that agreed strategies to reduce known risks are implemented consistently by staff. In particular, the registered person must ensure that room searches, and other risk management measures are undertaken and recorded clearly for staff to understand and follow. 9 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 9 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2869498 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is effectively and efficiently managed. In particular, the registered person must ensure that children's plans, and records are kept up to date, accurately reflect their current needs and risks, and provide staff with clear guidance to support consistent practice.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that family time arrangements are clearly planned, understood and implemented, and that the impact of direct work with children is evaluated.

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Requirement Due date

Also, the registered person must ensure that monitoring and oversight systems are effective in identifying shortfalls, improving practice and promoting positive outcomes for children. Senior managers should maintain a regular and visible presence in the home to strengthen oversight, support staff and ensure that children receive safe and effective care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— 9 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2869498 7 the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child's age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any measures used to restrict children's liberty, including bedroom door alarms, are necessary, proportionate and subject to regular review. In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is clear recorded justification for their use, that restrictions are not used to compensate for supervision arrangements, and that appropriate consultation and written agreement from those with parental responsibility and relevant professionals are obtained and retained.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that when children move into the home, they assess children's risks and vulnerabilities effectively to ensure they are able to live alongside each other safely. The registered person must also ensure that children's moves out of the home are well planned to provide a smooth transition into their new home. 9 September 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2869498 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home environment reflects a homely and welcoming atmosphere. This includes reviewing the use of signage, labelled storage boxes and unnecessary environmental restrictions to ensure that these are proportionate and do not detract from the home's homely feel for children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards'. Inspection report children's home: 2869498 9

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Compass Children's Homes

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Compass Community Ltd, 3 Rayns Way, Syston, Leicester LE7 1PF

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Inspector

Karen Hallam, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2869498 10 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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